Apparatus for manufacturing powder puffs with a ribbon incorporated therein



Dec. 21, 1954 Filed July 18, 1951 R. BIHLER APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING POWDER PUFFS WITH A RIBBON INCORPORATED THEREIN 4 Shegts-Sheet l INVENTOR. 20 52 B/fi/L E2 4 TTOEA/Eyj Dec. 21, 1954 R. BIHLER 2,697,471

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING POWDER PUFFS WITH A RIBBON INCORPORATED THEREIN Filed July 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 065? 5/HL 52 WMKwJQ 47702/1/5/5 Dec. 21, 1954 R. BIHLER APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING POWDER PUFFS WITH A RIBBON INCORPORATED THEREIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 18, 1951 M wm H m I 5 V I." i .2 4 W Q, m I v w W 5 a! 2 M kw D5 w 6 E 8 a H N m Y C) MM 4 7 Tom/5Y5 Dec. 21, 1954 B|HLER 2,697,471

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING POWDER PUFFS WITH A RIBBON INCORPORATED THEREIN Filed July-l8, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @0 52 mum 4 TI'OENEVS United States PatentO APPARATUS FQR MANUFACTURING POWDER PUFFS WITH A RIBBON INCORPORATED THEREIN Roger Bihler, Brentwood, N. Y., assignor to Victoria oglige, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Application July 18, 1951, Serial No. 237,444

16 Claims. (Cl. 154-1.6)

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing and assembling shaped articles from blanks, said articles having incorporated therein a ribbon or similar strip of material, and in particular. to an apparatus for manufacturing powder puffs from a pair of such blanks secured together in abutting relationship and a ribbon strip, the ribbon extending across one face of the completed powder puff and the ends of said ribbon being secured between said blanks.

In application Serial No. 178,234 of Roger Bihler and Sidney R. Bell, filed August 8, 1950, and entitled, Machine for Manufacturing Powder Puffs and the Like, and assigned to the assignee of the instant application, an organized machine is disclosed which is adapted to efficiently, expeditiously and automatically form and assemble two individual blanks into a completed powder puff. As there disclosed, no means are provided for the incorporation into the finished powder puff of a ribbon attachmentv The present invention, in its more specific aspects, constitutes an improvement over the machine of the aforementioned application, the improvement being directed to the incorporation therein of means for manipulatingribbon segments or segments of other strip material so as to producea powder puff inwhich said ribbon or otherstrip material extends across one face of the powder pufli. However, in its broader aspects the present invention, although here disclosed specifically with respect to a machine of the type disclosed in the aforementioned application, could be used with or be incorporated into machines of other types.

It is generally desirable from a commercial-point of view-that a powder puff have incorporated thereinto a ribbon or strip, preferable extending across one face of the finished puff, not only for decorative reasons, but also to facilitate manipulation of the puff. It therefore is of significance to provide a method and apparatus for manufacturing powder puffs or similar articles in which such a ribbon may be automatically incorporated. In prior art puffs such ribbons are generally incorporated through the employment of stitching, thus'requiring a time consuming hand operation (or a pair of operations, since ordinarily both ends of the ribbon must be attached to the puff) which not only greatly reduces the rate at which such pufis may be produced but also adds materially to the cost of manufacture thereof.

The present invention provides an apparatus by means of which ribbons may be incorporated into powder puffs or similar articles in afully automatic manner and by the use of adhesive. In its broad aspects, the operation of the machine involves associating a ribbon with one of the blanks which ultimately is to be a partof the completed powder puff, forming, shaping and applying adhesive to the powder puff blanks substantially independently of the ribbon, and then, before the two blanks are pressed together so as to unite them, folding'the ends of the ribbon between the blanks so thatthe ribbon will be securely fastened to the mating parts of the completed powder puff. This particular mode of operation, in which adhesive is applied to both of the blanks before the ends of the ribbon are folded over the blank with which the ribbon is associated, provides for layers of adhesive on both sides of the ribbon ends. The apparatus could be modified to fold the ends of the ribbon inwardly before the application of adhesive, but with'sucha method the ribbon Will not be adhesively attached to the blank to which it is associated, and hence will be more liable to be separated fI'OmithB puff.

2,697,471 Patented Dec. 21, 1954 Apparatus is here disclosed and claimed which, fully automancally and without requiring any attention from the operator of the machine, will fold the ribbon ends over the blank with which the ribbon is associated at the desired time in the sequence of assembling operations. This apparatus comprises a pair of fingers mounted on the d1e element into which one blank and the ribbon associated therewith is inserted, the fingers assuming an inoperative position outside the open mouth of the die element and opposite those end portions of the ribbon which extend beyond the blank with which the ribbon is associated, and an operative position inwardly disposed with respect to the inoperative position and extending at least partially over the openvmouth of the die element, the fingers in their operative position bending the end portions of the ribbon around the side edges and over the top of the blank with which it is associated. Movement of these fingers between their operative and inoperative positions is accomplished by means of a simple and inexpensive mechanical linkage very readily incorporated into the machine of the aforementioned application without requiring any appreciable modification of thatmachine and without interfering in any way with the mode or efliciency of functioning thereof.

A feature of the machine of the aforementioned application is the employment of a flow of air for infolding the side edges of each of the individual blanks which constitutes the puff. The apparatus of the present invention is so constructed and so coacts with the other elements of the machine that while the flow of air still infolds the side edges of the blank, that air flow does not cause the end portions of the ribbon to be infolded at the same time. Instead, those end portions are retained in substantially upright condition until such time in the cycle of operation as it is desired that they be infolded for best results. While this mode of interaction and cooperation between the ribbon folding attachment of the resent invention and the other elements of the machine of the aforementioned application constitutes an important point of novelty and invention insofar as the present improvement is concerned, it must nevertheless be borne in mind that the folding apparatus here disclosed and claimed has great utility in machines other than that of the aforementioned application, and therefore that in its broader aspects the apparatus here disclosed is inventive per se and apart from the above described specific mode of cooperation.

The simplicity and inexpensiveness of the apparatus of the present invention, when compared to the complexity of the task which it performs, particularly when the importance of accurate timing in the performance of that function is realized, and the efficiency and positiveness with which it carries out its designed functions Without requiring any attention on the part of the operator amply emphasize the commercial significance and inventiveness of the instant application.

To the accomplishment of the above objects, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to apparatus for forming powder puffs or the like in which a ribbon is incorporated, and to the specific structural details of the mechanism utilized for infolding the ends of said ribbon, as defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification, taken together wtih the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partially broken away, showing a machine of the type disclosed in the aforementioned application Serial No. 178,234 in Wl'llCh the present invention is embodied, blanks and ribbon being in place on both sides of the carriage;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the machine of Fig. 1, showing the die elements in forming position and the carriage in loading position, the left hand portion of the carriage having a blank and a ribbon in place therein and the right hand portion of the carriage being empty;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan vlew of a portion of one arm of the folding attachment;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing one die element in forming position, a port on of the carriage positioned thereabove in load ng pos1t1on with a ribbon and powder puff blank in position thereon,

and the forcing means in operative position over the die element;

Figs. and 6 are side cross-sectional views, on a reduced scale, of the components of Fig. 4 showing those components in various positions which they assume during the forcing of the powder puff blank and the ribbon into the die casing, Fig. 5 illustrating the position which the parts assume immediately before the upwardly projecting side edges of the powder puff blank are inbent and Fig. 6 illustrating the position which the parts assume immediately after said side edges are inbent;

Fig. 7 is an end view, partially in cross-section and with parts broken away, showing a portion of the machine after the operation illustrated in Fig. 6, the two die elements being in forming position and the gluing means being in position for depositing glue on the inbent periphery of the blank; and

Figs. 8, 9, and 11 are schematic views illustrating the operation of the folding attachment and the means actuating said attachment while the die elements are moved from forming to assembling position and back again, Fig. 8A showing the die elements in forming position, Fig. 9A showing the die elements almost in assembling position, Fig. 10A showing the die elements in assembling position, and Fig. 11A showing the die elements in an intermediate position on their way from assembling to forming position. Figs. 8B, 9B, 10B and 11B are views corresponding to Figs. 8A, 9A, 10A and 11A respectively but showing the relative positions of and interaction between the moving means for the folding attachment and the actuating means therefor. Figs. 8C, 9C, 10C and 11C correspond to Figs. 8A, 9A, 10A and 11A respectively and represent plan views of the left hand die elements looking down on the top face thereof, showing the position which the various parts of the folding attachment assume when that die element is in the position illustrated in Figs. 8A, 9A, 10A and 11A respectively.

The instant invention will be here disclosed in conjunction with a machine of the type disclosed in the aforementioned application Serial No. 178,234, but it will be understood that significant aspects of its inventiveness are not dependent upon its use with that machine. Since the elements of that machine are described with considerable detail in the aforementioned application, Serial No. 178,234, they will be here disclosed only generally, detailed description being reserved for those components which form a part of or directly cooperate with the instant invention. Accordingly, the general description of the machine which immediately follows should be considered merely as outlining an environment in which the present invention can function, but without in any way limiting the broad aspects of the present invention to that environment.

The machine here disclosed comprises a plurality of operative components arranged and movably mounted on a suitable frame. These components include a pair of forming mechanisms A, A each including a die element 2, 2 having an open mouth 4 into which powder pulf blanks are insertable. In the form here specifically disclosed, each of these blanks comprises a casing element 6 having a diameter greater than that of the open mouths 4 of the die elements 2, 2, and a wad of padding or stufling 8 receivable in said casing element 6 and slightly smaller in diameter than said open mouth 4. The forming mechanisms A, A are movable between a forming position in which their open mouths 4 are exposed (Figs. 1, 2 and 8A) and an assembling position in which their open mouths abut (Fig. 10A). The powder puff casing blanks are individually movable into the forming mechanisms A and A so as to take a desired configuration, and a ribbon 10 or other strip material is adapted to be inserted into one of the forming mechanisms, here shown as the lefthand mechanism A, so as to be associated with the powder puff blank in said forming mechanism A.

A carriage B is movable between a loading position (Figs. 1 and 2) remote from the forming mechanisms A, A when those mechanisms are in forming position, and a delivering position over the exposed open months 4 of the forming mechanisms A and A (Figs. 4, 5 and 6). The individual powder puff blanks 6, 8 and the ribbon 10 are placed upon the carriage B when that carriage is in loading position, the carriage being suitably shaped so as to facilitate placement of the blanks and ribbons thereon in accurately oriented position, the carriage B in moving to delivering position carrying the blanks 6, 8 and ribbon 10 therewith and accurately positioning them over the exposed open mouths 4 of the forming mechanisms A, A.

Forcing means C, C are provided for automatically forcing the blanks from the carriage B into the forming mechanisms A, A and for forcing the ribbon 10 into the forming mechanism A in properly oriented position with respect to the corresponding blank. The forcing means C, C are movable between an inoperative position remote from the forming mechanisms A, A (Fig. 1) and an operative position over the carriage B in delivering position and the forming mechanisms A, A in forming position (Figs. 4, 5 and 6). When the forcing means C, C are in operative position they are movable toward and into the open mouths 4 of the forming mechanisms A, A so as to force the powder puff blanks 6, 8 and the ribbon 10 from the carriage B into the forming mechanisms A, A, the forcing means C, C then being movable out of and away from the open months 4 of the forming mechanisms A, A so as to permit the carriage B to return to loading position and permit the forcing mechanisms C, C themselves to be returned to inoperative position.

Gluing means D, D are provided, those means being movable between a glue-obtaining position remote from the forming mechanisms A, A (Fig. 1) and a glue-depositing position over the open months 4 of the forming mechanisms A, A (Fig. 7), the gluing means D, D in glue-depositing position being reciprocable toward and away from the forming mechanisms A, A so as to deposit glue upon the upper surfaces of the blanks held therein.

In the preferred mode of operation here specifically disclosed, the forcing means C, C, after they have moved the ribbon 10 and the powder puff blank 6, 8 with which that ribbon is associated into the forming mechanism A, act to facilitate the inbending of the side edges of the casing element 2 over and around the stufiing 8, while at the same time ensuring that the end portions 12 of the ribbon 10 remain substantially upright. Similarly, the gluing means D which applies adhesive to the upper portion of the blank in the forming mechanism A does so while the ribbon end portions 12 continue to extend upwardly. The gluing means D, D are then returned to a position remote from the forming mechanisms A, A, after which said forming mechanisms A, A are moved to assembling position (Fig. 10A).

A ribbon folding attachment, generally designated E, is provided on the forming mechanism A into which the ribbon 10 is inserted, that attachment being active upon the upwardly extending ribbon ends 12 at an appropriate time in the cycle of operation so as to bend those ends over the upper surface of the blank with which it is associated. This is done before the forming mechanisms A, A reach their assembling position, so that the ribbon 10 may be secured to the powder puff via its ends 12 at the same time that the two blanks of which the puff is composed are united. The infolding of the ribbon end portions 12 is preferably performed after adhesive has been applied to the upper surface of the blank with which it is associated, that infolding action being here disclosed as occurring while the forming mechanisms A and A are on their way to assembling position. After the blanks have been united and the ribbon end portions 12 have been secured therebetween, the forming mechanisms A, A are again moved to forming position, the completed powder puff with ribbon attachment is removed, and a new cycle of operation of the machine commences, the carriage B again moving from loading to delivering position.

Now describing the machine in a somewhat more particularized manner, the supporting frame thereof may comprise a sturdy bed plate 14 upon which all of the components of the machine are mounted. A pair of standards 16 and 18 extend from each end of the bed plate 14 to an appropriate height, preferably such that a seated operator can have ready access to the top of the apparatus. A cam shaft 20 is journaled in the lower portions of the standards 16 and 18, that shaft being rotated by motor 22 via operative connection 24 which may take the form of a sprocket chain, belt, gear train or the like. At the top of the standards 16 and 18 a pair of spaced horizontal guide rods 26, 26 are mounted, the carriage B and gluing means D, D being slidable along those guide rods between their various positions. Vertical standards generally designated 28 and 28 are positioned outside the guide rods 26, 26, the forcing means'C, C beingzmounted'thereonso as to pivot' about mechanisms A, A being pivotally mounted on theshaft: 32. so as to be movablebetween forming'and assembling positions. The shaft 32 is approximately on the same level as the guide rods 26, 26 so that the carriage B and the gluing means D, D can be guided by the rods 26, 26 in their motion without being obstructed; It willbe noted that'the loading position of the carriage is on one sideof the forming mechanisms A, A while the glueobtaining position of the gluing means D, D is on theother side thereof;

Alsomountedon the bed' plate 14 is an air suction pump '34 the suctionend of which is connected to the' forming mechanisms A, A via a suitable control arrangement.

The carriage B, detailsof which can best be seen in Fig. 2. comprises a plate 36mounted on theguiderods 26, 26 by meansof collars 37 'so as tobe slidable-therealong and provided with a central raised portion 38 adaptedto clear the shaft 32 when the carriage is in delivering position. On eitherside of the'raised portion 38 are a pairof apertures 40 smaller thanthe diameter of the casing element 6 b'ut larger than the diameter of the stuffing 8, recesses 42' being formed around the apertures 40 and having a diameter closely similar to that of the casing element 6. The lefthand' upper portion of the'plate 36' is also provided'with a-pair of diametrically opposed and radially orientedrecesses 44 of a width closely similar to that of the ribbon-1t Thus the ribbonmaybe placed on thelefthand part'of the carriage B in flat condition and extendingover'theaperture 40, the end portions 12 thereof being received with= in recesses 44, the casingelements 6 may also be placed on the carriage B in fiat condition so as to be received within the recesses-42, and the-wad of paddingb'which may also form a part of the powder pufi blank may then be centered on top of the casing element 6. When-the carriage B is in its delivering position (Figs. 4, 5 and6) the apertures '40 are in accurate registration with the open mouths 4 of the forming mechanisms A, A. Since the'wad of padding 8 has a diameter somewhat'smal'ler' than that of the aperture 40, the powder'puff blanks and the ribbon 10 may be forced through the apertures and moved smoothly and easily into the forming mechanisms A, A. The carriage B is moved" between its loading and delivering positions by means of an appro'- priate operative connection generally designated 46 between the carriage B and a cam'48 mounted-on the camshaft 20.

The gluing means D and D are similar inconstruction; Each consists of a cup-shaped member 50, St) the downwardly depending flange 52 of which'is approximately of the same size and shape as the powder-puff. casing blanks in the die element 2, 2, the members SilyStV-b'e.

ing preferably adapted to pass between the upstanding.

end'portions'12 of the ribbonltl when that ribbon ant the blank with which it is associated'are inserted into the die element 2, as may best be seen from Fig. 7'. Each of the cups 50, "is mounted on a rod 54 vertically reciprocable within carriage 56, the carriage in turn being slidably mounted on the guide rods 26; 26 by means of collars 58 and being moved therealong =by anopera tive connection generally designated 60 between the carriage 56 and an appropriate cam (not shown) on the cam shaft 20. The members 50 are verticallylreciprocated when the carriage 56 is in glue-depositing position over the open mouths 4 of the forming mechanisms-A. A between the solid line position shownin thealefthand portion of Fig. 7 and the broken line position'there illustrated, that motion being accomplished-by means :of a tappet and gear linkage generally designated 62 connected to channel-shaped member 64 which is suitably actuated by an operative connection generallydesignated 66 between the channel-shaped member 64 and an appropriate cam (not shown) on the cam shaft'20. A pair of glue applicator 68, 68 are positioned in the path.

of the members 50, 50 as they move from the position A cross bar surfaces :of the downward-1y depending. flanges :52 "on themembersv 501 50", -1 that adhesive-rbeing i transferred to the: upperisurfaces of'the blanks" in the forming mechanisms A andA' when'the members-50,150 are moved to the position'shown in. broken lines .in Fig;- 7.

. open mouth 4. Upwardprojections 76 are provided and'is further-provided with aringof upstanding pins 32 which1tend to grasp the casing blank 2, and the ribbon 10,.when"that blank :or ribbon is moved .into the dieele-v menLA, .so as to preventthem. from shifting their pOsi-' tion;

In order to provide for'motion of the forming mech-v anismsA andA betweentheir forming and assembling positions-"each of the-supportsfl tl is provided with-spaced ears 84, 84' the earsiidof the forming zmechanism A- iitting between the cars 84' of the forming mechanism A and;the nears thusiinterfittedbeing-received over shaft 32 so that the shaft 32 constitutes a pivotal axisfor the formingrmechanisms andA. These mechanisms are pivotal. aboutithe shaft 32 between the forming position inwhiclrthey are on oppositesides of the shaft. Sland in whichxtheir open months .4 areparalleland in line (Fig: 7) and;the-assemblingrposition'in which they are both on the same side of the shaft 32iand. their open months there abut" (Fig; 10A). They are moved between "forming: and :assembling :positions by means of an. operative connectionigenerally designated86 (seeFig; 7) betweenthernselves" and an appropriate-cam -(not shown) on cam shaft 28.

E'achzzof the forcing means C and C comprises a cup like :shel'l 88'a'ndra plunger 98 snugly receivable Within the'shell andindependently movable with respect there-- to. T he outer dimensions or" theshell' 33 are such that it willipass throughathe aperture 49 in the carriage B and will also be movable-into the open mouth4 of the die element 2, preferably.beingreceived'within the die element 2 with sufiicient clearancevat the sides thereof so as; not "to interfere with the upwardly extending: ribbonend portions 12. The plunger 90 is necessarily. smaller in outer dimensions than the shell 88 and is preferably of asize comparable to that of'the wad of padding 8 which forrns:a.--part of the powder puff blank. The shell 88 and. plunger 94) aremounted at the end of arms 92, 92' (See-:Fig: 1) so as to be movable with those arms. betweenv the. inoperative, position shown in Fig. 1, in which the forcing means C, C. areremote from thezforming..mechanisms A, A, andv the operative. position disposed above the open months 4 of therorrningmechanisms A, A, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. In the operative. position the.shell.88 and plunger 90 areindependently 'reciprocable toward, into and away from the forming mechanisms A, A. These motions are all accomplished through appropriate operative connections with cams (not shownlmounted on the cam shaft 20. As in the case of the other-operative connections heretofore generallyreferrcd-to, reference may be had to the aforementioned application SerialNQ. 178,234 for a specificslinkage whichhas been founduseable. for this purnose-.-

The folding attachment E isshown as embodied in only one of the forming mechanisms, to wit, theforming mechanism A, since it is unusuallythecase that a single ribbon extending over only oneface of the completed. powder'puii is desired, but it will be understood that if ribbons-rare to be afiixedto a structure so as to. extend over-both sides thereof, a similar. attachment .5 could alsotbe applied to theformingmechanism..A, or to. any

other forming mechanism with which it may be associated. It comprises a pair of arms 94 and 96 of arcuate shape articulately mounted on the forming mechanism A and having fingers 98 and 100 which extend toward the open mouth 4 of the die element 2. More specifically, each of the arms 94 and 96 is pivotally mounted on the upper surface of the support 70 outside the spaced projections 76 on the upper surface of the ring 74, the fingers 98 and 100 extending inwardly toward the open mouth 4 between adjacent projections 76. The arm 94 is arcuate, partially surrounds the open mouth 4, and is provided at a point intermediate its length with an elongated slot 102 within which screw 104 is received, the screw being secured to the support 70 and defining the axis about which the arm 94 can pivot, said arm 94, by virtue of the elongated nature of the slot 102, also being capable of translation in a direction parallel to the plane of the upper surface of the support 70. The arm 96 is also arcuate, partially surrounds another portion of the open mouth 4, and is pivotally secured to the upper face of the shell 72 by means of screw 106. The fingers 98 and 100 are attached to the arms 94 and 96 respectively at points remote from the pivotal axes of said arms so that when said arms are pivoted, the fingers 98 and 100 will move between inoperative positions shown in Figs. 2, 8C, 10C and 11C, in which position the fingers 98 and 100 are wholly outside the open mouth 4, and operative positions shown in Fig. 9C, in which the fingers 98 and 100 extend at least partially over the open mouth 4. The fingers 98 and 100 are positioned opposite the points where the ribbon end portions 12 extend upwardly and thus, in the embodiment here disclosed, will be directly under the slots 44 in the carriage B when that carriage is in delivering position.

The ends of the arms 94 and 96 overlap on the other side of their respective pivotal axes from the fingers 98 and 100 and a pin 108 in the end of arm 94 is received within slot 110 in the end of arm 96. By reason of this interconnection, movement of arm 94 will cause corresponding movement of arm 96, so that the fingers 98 and 100 will move in synchronized manner between operative and inoperative positions.

In order to fix the operative and inoperative positions of the arms 94 and 96, the arm 94 is provided with another elongated slot 112 (see Figs. 2 and 3) through which screw 114 passes, the screw 114 being secured to the support 70. A spring 116 (see Figs. 8) is mounted on the side of the support 70 and extends upwardly into engagement with a portion of the arm 94, the spring being active upon that arm to urge it to pivot in a clockwise direction about the pin 104 to the fullest extent permitted by screw 114 and slot 112, this defining the inoperative position of the folding mechanism.

For moving the arms 94 and 96 and their fingers 98 and 100 to operative position, a cam follower 118 is mounted on the arm 94 so as to be cooperable with cam 120 mounted on hub 122 defined by one of the ears 84' of the forming mechanism A. The cam follower 118 is mounted on leaf 124 which is in turn pivotally mounted at 126 with respect to the arm 94. A spring 128 (see Fig. 3) urges the leaf 124 to a horizontal position parallel to the arm 94, and the cam follower 118 will therefore be rigid with respect to the arm 94 insofar as pressures in the plane of motion of the arm 94 and pressures downwardly with respect thereto are concerned. However, the cam follower 118 can be moved against the action of the spring 128 in an upward direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the movement of the arm 94 (see Fig. 11B) without transmitting that motion to the arm 94, this being accomplished through pivoting of the leaf 124 about the axis 126. The cam 120 on the hub 122 is defined by an inclined face 130 and an abrupt drop 132, the cam 120 being adapted to be moved into engagement with the cam follower 118 while the forming mechanisms A and A are moving toward their assembling position in such a direction as to cause the cam follower 118 to ride along the inclined surface 130 from the low point to the high point thereof, thus moving the arms 94 and 96 to their operative position, and then, urged by the spring 116, and when the abrupt drop 132 has passed the cam follower 118, to move back to inoperative position. When the forming mechanisms A and A move from assembling back to forming position, the abrupt drop 132 of the cam 120 engages the cam follower 118 in such a direction as to cause the leaf 124 to pivot with respect to the arm 94, thus permitting the forming mechanisms A and A to resume their forming positions without moving the arms 94 and 96.

It will be seen that, apart from providing the grooves 44 in the lefthand portion of the carriage B, which can be used or not as desired depending upon whether a ribbon 10 is used or not, no other modification of the machine of application Serial No. 178,234 is required except for the securing of the arms 94 and 96 to the upper face of the die element 2 and the securing of cam 120 on the arm 84 which defines the hub 122. The arms are secured in place by means of three screws 104, 106 and 114, and the cam 120 can also be secured in place through the use of screws, so that the arms and cam are all removable at will. Thus a given machine can readily be converted between use with a ribbon and use without a ribbon, and this conversion can be accomplished even by an unskilled person and without requiring any modification or adjustment whatsoever of the closely correlated cams and controls which move the components of the machine per se in accurately timed relationship.

While the mode of operation of the ribbon folding attachment and the manner in which it cooperates with the other components of the machine with which it is illustrated will in the main be apparent from the above description, it nevertheless seems desirable to describe a complete cycle of operation. The cycle starts with the carriage B in loading position, the forming mechanisms A, A in forming position, the forcing means C, C in inoperative position, and the gluing means D,.D in their position remote from the forming means A, A, all as illustrated in Fig. l. The operator, who is located at the lower end of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1, will first place the ribbon 10 across the lefthand aperture 40 of the carriage B so that the ribbon end portions 12 rest in the slots 44. The operator will then place casing blanks 6 within the recesses 42 of the carriage B, the wads 8 of padding or stuffing being then placed on top of the casing blanks 6. The carriage B then moves to delivering position, the apertures 40 registering with the open mouths 4 of the forming mechanisms A, A, and the forcing means pivot to operative position over the apertures 40 in the carriage B. The shell 88 and plunger then move downwardly through the apertures 40 in the carriage B, thus forcing the casing blanks 6, stuffing 8, and ribbon 10 down through the apertures 40 and into the open mouths 4 of the die elements 2 and 2. The plunger 90 starts out somewhat in advance of the shell 88, as shown in Fig. 4, and after the powder puff blanks have been moved through the apertures 40 in the carriage B the plunger 90 advances more rapidly than the shell 88 until the parts assume the relative positions shown in Fig. 5. Since the plunger 90 is approximately of the size of the wad of stuffing 8, and since the casing blank 6 is greater in diameter than the wad of stuifing 8 and is also greater in diameter than the open mouth 4 of the die elements 2, the side edges of the casing blank 6 will extend upwardly around and beyond the sides of the stufiing 8, the entire casing blank being pressed into the die element 2 sufficiently so that the pins 82 will engage the blank and hold it in position. The side edges of the casing blank 6, as they extend upwardly, tend to surround the periphery of the plunger 90 and are positioned under the outer portion of the shell 88. Since the ribbon 10 is even longer than the diameter of the casing blank 6, its end portions 12 also extend upwardly when the ribbon is forced into the die element 2, those ribbon end portions 12 preferably being long enough so as to extend upwardly alongside and outside of the shell 88.

During the time that the powder puff blanks are being urged to the die elements 2, suction is exerted within those die elements via the orifices 80, thus aiding the movement of the powder puff blanks into the die element 2. This causes a flow of air into the die elements 2 which impinges against the upstanding side edges of the casing element 6 and tends to cause said edges to be inbent. While the plunger 90 assumes the position shown in Fig. 5, in which it is between the upstanding side edges of the casing element 6, that inbending cannot take place. However, when the plunger 90 is lifted the flow of air inwardly causes inbending of the upwardly extending side edges of the casing element 6 to take place, the plunger 90 and shell 88 thereafter coming down to the position shown in Fig. 6, in which they press down the inbent casings-element side edges: alt will .be. notedthat in this position; the. ribbon endportionswlliarestilltoutside. thev shell-88.and.hence, even. thotzgh the ;inflow -ofair above mentionedarnighttend' to inbcndtheribbon end portions- 12, the.shell. 88=presents a positive impediment to that inbending. Furthermore, the nature. of -.the,material.of which the ribbon 10 is composed is such;.that it will resist inbendingmore. than. theisoft materialiof -which the casing element 6 is usually made.

The plunger 90 and shell 88 then withdraw from the. die element 2 andtthe. aperture .48 'in the carriage B, the forcing meansC, C pivot to inoperative position, the carriage B moves back to loading position, and the gluing means D, D move toward the. forming mecha nisms A, A, picking up glue from-the glue pots 68,-.68.

on the way. When the .cup-shapetLmembers. 50,505

have reached a position over the die elements ,2, 2.",.they are moved downwardly so as to transfer adhesive from their lower surface to the upper surfaces of the inbent side edges of the casing element 6. Theribbon end .portions 12 preferably'still extend upright duringthis' operation, the cup-shapedmembers 50 passing freely between said upstanding ribbon end portions :12 as may. be clearly seen from Fig. .6.

The gluing means D,.D then return to their positions shown in Fig. l, and the forming mechanisms. .A, Aare pivoted about the shaft 32 so as to move from the. forming positions shown in Fig. 8A upwardly to the assembling position shown in Fig. 10A and then back. to theirfrming-positions. When theformingmechanisms A, A are in their assembling positions they. pressthe adhesived upper surfaces of the inbent side edges of the casing elements. 2 against one another. so as to secure thejtwo powder puff blanks together and define .a. single composite powder puff.

The ribbon is made a part. of the powderpuif through the action of the ribbon. folding. attachment E, that attachment serving,v at any appropriate point in the cycle of the operation of the machine, to fold the upstanding ribbon end portionsr12 over the powder puii blank with which it is associated, this action occurring before the two blanks are pressedtogether so that the ribbon end portions 12'arev adhesively secured between the powder puff blanks at the same time that those blanks are secured to one another. It is advantageous to postpone the infolding of the'ribhon end portions 12 unt1l the upper surface of thepowder putt blank with which it is associated has been provided with adhesive, so that both surfaces of the ribbon endportions 12 will be secured to the powder puif blanks on either side of them by a layer of adhesive.

The ribbon folding attachment E here specificallydlsclosed folds the ribbon end portions 12 inwardly while relative motion occurs between the forming mechanism A onwhichthe attachment E is secured and some other part of the machine, here shown as the'other forming mechanism A. As the two forming mechanisms move from their forming positions shown in Fig. 8 toward their assembling position shownv in Fig. 10, the cam 1220 secured to the hub 122 moves into engagement with the 'cam follower 118 in a downward direction relative to the face of the die element 2. Since thecam follower 118 cannot move with respect to the arm 94in that direction, the cam follower 118 rides along the inclined surface 13 0 of the cam 120 (see Figs. 9A, B and C) and thus positively forces the arm 94 to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction about the screw 1G4 andto translate slightly inwardly with respect thereto, thus bringingtthe finger 98 over the open mouth 4 of the die element- 2 and folding down the upstanding ribbon end portion'lZ thereadjacent. The pin and slot interconnection 108, 110 between the arm 94 and the arm 96 will cause the arm 96 to pivot in a clockwise direction about the screw 106, thus bringing the finger 100 over the open mouth 4 of the die element 2 so as to fold down the other ribbon end portion 12. As the forming mechanisms A, A continuetoward their assembling position, the high point of the-cam 120 passes the cam follower 118 (see Figs. A, B and C). The spring 116 thus urges the cam follower outwardly, this action moving the arms 94 and 96 and their fingers 98 and 100 back to inoperative position.

After the powder puff blanks and the ribbon have been united, the forming mechanisms A, A return to their. formingposition. During this motion the'cam. 120 must once again move past the cam follower 118, but

this-time-the abrupt drop; .on the .cam. 120.,engages ,the cam.

' nism A (see. Fig'.'. 11C),Qand.is r'emovedtherefromat an appropriate time.

The folding attachment .of the (present. invention. is posi-. tive in operati0n,..extremelyfsimple,in construction and readily.- attached .to and'detached from thefjmachin'e' with which .it is associated. ,..While ftheflstructural detailed the folding attachment are significant inv andlof themselves, and while certain, inventive .aspects are presented by i the specific mode of operation whichlthe attachment, exhibits with respect. to thepowderlpufl. forming machine of application Serial iNo1T17 8,234,lthe.'inventiveness of the disclosurehas broaderv aspects and.consequently lchanges may be 'made .in specific,structural..detailsjand. in .the environmentin which, the attachment. operates without dep'artinglfrom the'fspiriti.offthe'invention as defined in the following claims.

I claimi 1. Apparatus forimanufacturing powder-"puffs 'and similar' shaped articles comprising a die element having an open mouthintowhich apowderlpufi blankand aribbon is forced to take. thexcontour. of .saiddie element, end portions .of saidjribhon .extending' upwardly. beyond vthe periphery of saidblank,.;a ribbont'olding device com? prising a pain. of arms .articulately. mounted onsaidjdie element .and each havingia. finger. extending toward the open. mouth of said; dieflelemenh adjacent; one ..of said upwardly extending ,ribbonend, portions. respectively, ,said arms being. movable. between. an inoperative. position in whrch their. fingers are outsidefl.'said .openmouth and an operative positionin, which .theirfingers extend inwardly over. .sa1d open .mouth .so as .to inbend ,said:ribb'on .end PQI'UOIIS, and moving-.means operatively..connectednto said. arms and eifecltive to move, saidarms .between .their moperative. and. operative positions...

2. Apparatus. for manufacturing; powder. puffs and. similarv shaped articlescomprising'. a. die element relatively movable with. respect. to another) parLof said apparatus between first. and second positions: and. having. 1 an; open mouth mto..which a powder-.pufliblankandlal ribbonis forced to take. the. contourv of said. dievelen'ient when said die element is in its 'firs't relative position, end portions of sa dribbon extending upwardly; beyond .the Iperipherly of saidblank, a, ribbon folding. devicecomprising a pair of arms articulatelymounted ,on..saidpdie-element,,.and each having a finger. extending.towarditheiopenmouth of said die element adjacent one of said upwardly.,extending ribbonend portions respectively, said...arms being movable between anrinoperatiye. position in which-their fingers are outside said open mouth andan operative. position in which theirfingers.extendlinWardlybvensaid open mouth .so as,,;to jinbendhsaidnriblion end=.portion's, and moving means .operatively;qonnected..to..at least.one of said..die..'element and .saidnotherapartnof :said apparatus,

actuated ...thereby' -.whensaid .Lrelative' movement occurs,

and=operatively connected to .said .a'rms. to move: the ,latter between inoperative. and. operative. positions..when,said moving,means is actuated,..thereby.causingisaid.arms to move betweentheir inoperativeand. operative ositions as .said. die element-.and, saidfo'ther .part. are relatively moved.

3. Apparatus for manufacturing.powderipufis and similar shaped articlesgcomprising:a dieielenienb, said, die.1element having an open .mouth.v .into..which" fa. powderjpufl blankandaribbon is forcedrto takelthecontourof said die. element,rend -portions-ofnsaid ribbonextending upwardly'beyond the. periphery of said blank, aribbonfolding:device. comprising; a pair ofxdirectly. interconnected arms .articulately. mountedon-tsaiddie. elementand .each

having a finger extending toward the open. mouth of said die element adjacent. one.ofrsaiduupw ardly extending ribbontendportions respectively; said armsibeing mov: ablebetween aninoperative. ,positiondn which their. .fingers .are outsideysaidr .opem mouth. andranpperative ,posi- .tion in which. their-.fingers extend inwardly; oven tsaid 11 open mouth so as to inbend said ribbon end portions, and arm moving means operatively connected to one of said arms to move said arms between their inoperative and operative positions.

4. Apparatus for manufacturing powder puffs and similar shaped articles comprising a die element relatively movable with respect to another part of said apparatus between first and second positions and having an open mouth into which a powder puff blank and a ribbon is forced to take the contour of said die element when said die element is in its first relative position, end portions of said ribbon extending upwardly beyond the periphery of said blank, a ribbon folding device comprising a pair of directly interconnected arms articulately mounted on said die element and each having a finger extending toward the open mouth of said die element adjacent one of said upwardly extending ribbon end portions respectively, said arms being movable between an inoperative position in which their fingers are outside said open mouth and an operative position in which their fingers extend inwardly over said open mouth so as to inbend said ribbon end portions, and arm moving means operatively connected to at least one of said die element and said other part of said apparatus, actuated thereby when said relative movement occurs, and operatively connected to said arms to move the latter between inoperative and operative positions when said moving means is actuated, thereby causing said arms to move between their inoperative and operative positions as said die element and said otner palt are relatively moved.

5. Apparatus for manufacturing powder puffs and similar shaped articles comprising a die element relatively movable with respect to another part of said apparatus between first and second positions and having an open mouth into which a powder puff blank and a ribbon is forced to take the contour of said die element when said die element is in its first relative position, end portions of said ribbon extending upwardly beyond the periphery of said blank, a ribbon folding device comprising a pair of arms articulately mounted on said die element and each having a finger extending toward the open mouth of said die element adjacent one of said upwardly extending ribbon end portions respectively, said arms being movable between an inoperative position in which their fingers are outside said open mouth and an operative position in which their fingers extend inwardly over said open mouth so as to inbend said ribbon end portions, and arm moving means operatively connected to at least one of said die element and said other part of said apparatus,

actuated thereby when said relative movement occurs from the first to the second relative positions of said die element, and operatively connected to said arms to move the latter from inoperative to operative position when said means is actuated, thereby causing said arms to move from inoperative position to operative position as said d ie element is relatively moved from first to second positom.

6. Apparatus for manufacturing powder puffs and similar shaped articles comprising a die element relatively movable with respect to another part of said apparatus between first and second positions and having an open mouth into which a powder puff and a ribbon is forced to take the contour of said die element when said die element is in its first relative position, end portions of said ribbon extending upwardly beyond the periphery of said blank, a ribbon folding device comprising a pair of arms articulately mounted on said die element and each having a finger extending toward the open mouth of said die element adjacent one of said upwardly extending ribbon end portions respectively, said arms being movable between an inoperative position in which their fingers are outside said open mouth and an operative position in which their fingers extend inwardly over said open mouth so as to inbend said ribbon end portions, and arm moving means operatively connected to at least one of said die element and said other part of said apparatus, first actuated and then de-actuated when said relative movement occurs from the first to the second relative position of said die element, actuation of said moving means occurring only when said relative movement occurs from the first to the second relative position of said die element, said moving means being operatively connected to said arms to retain said arms in inoperative position except when said moving means is actuated, in which event it moves said arms to operative position, said moving means 12 thereby causing said arms to move from inoperative position to operative position and back to inoperative position as said die element is relatively moved from first to second position, and causing said arms to remain in inoperative position as said die element is relatively moved from second to first position.

7. Apparatus for manufacturing powder puffs and similar shaped articles comprising a die element relatively movable with respect to another part of said apparatus between first and second positions, said die element having an open mouth into which a powder puff blank and a ribbon is forced to take the contour of said die element when said die element is in its first relative position, end portions of said ribbon extending upwardly beyond the periphery of said blank, a ribbon folding device comprising first and second arms articulately mounted on said die element and each having a finger extending toward the open mouth of said die element adjacent one of said upwardly extending ribbon end portions respectively, first moving means active on said arms to normally urge said arms to an inoperative position in which their fingers are outside said open mouth, second moving means active on said arms in opposition to said first means to move said arms to an operative position in which their fingers extend inwardly over said open mouth so as to inbend said ribbon end portions, and actuating means operatively connected to at least one of said die element and said other part of said apparatus, actuated thereby when said relative movement occurs from the first to the second relative position of said die element, and operatively connected to said second moving means to actuate the latter whenever it is actuated, thus causing said arms to move from inoperative to operative position as said die element is relatively moved from first to second position.

8. Apparatus for manufacturing powder pufis and similar shaped articles comprising a die element relatively movable with respect to another part of said apparatus between first and second positions, said die element having an open mouth into which a powder puff blank and a ribbon is forced to take the contour of said die element when said die element is in its first relative position, end portions of said ribbon extending upwardly beyond the periphery of said blank, a ribbon folding device comprising first and second arms articulately mounted on said die element and each having a finger extending toward the open mouth of said die element adjacent one of said upwardly extending ribbon end portions respectively, first moving means active on said arms to normally urge said arms to an inoperative position in which their fingers are outside said open mouth, second moving means active on said arms in opposition to said first means to move said arms to an operative position in which their fingers extend inwardly over said open mouth so as to inbend said ribbon end portions, and actuating means operatively connected to at least one of said die element and said other part of said apparatus, actuated and then de-actuated thereby whenever said relative movement occurs from the first to the second relative position of said die element, actuation of said actuating means occurring only when said relative movement occurs from the first to the second relative position of said die element, said actuating means being operatively connected to said second moving means to actuate the latter whenever it is actuated, thereby causing said arms to move from inoperative to operative position and back to inoperative position when said die element is relatively moved from first to second position, and causing said arms to remain in inoperative position when said die element is relatively moved from second to first position.

9. Apparatus for manufacturing powder puffs and similar shaped articles comprising a cammed hub, a die element pivotally movable relative to said cammed hub between first and second positions, said die element having an open mouth into which a powder puff blank and a ribbon is forced to take the contour of said die element when said die element is in its first relative position, end portions of said ribbon extending upwardly beyond the periphery of said blank, a ribbon folding device comprising first and second arms articulately mounted on said die element and each having a finger extending toward the open mouth of said die element adjacent one of said upwardly extending ribbon end portions respectively, first moving means active on said arms to normally urge said arms to an inoperative position in which their fingers are outside said open mouth, second moving means active on said arms in opposition to said first means to move said arms to an operative position in which their fingers extend inwardly over said open mouth so as to inbend said ribbon end portions, and actuating means operatively connected to at least one of said die element and said cammed hub, actuated thereby when said relative movement occurs from the first to the second relative position of said die element, and operatively connected to said second moving means to actuate the latter whenever it is actuated, thereby causing said arms to move from inoperative to operative position when said die element is relatively moved from first to second position.

10. Apparatus for manufacturing powder puffs and similar shaped articles comprising a cammed hub, a die element pivotally movable relative to said cammed hub between first and second positions, said die element having an open mouth into which a powder puif blank and a ribbon is forced to take the contour of said die element while said die element is in its first relative position, end portions of said ribbon extending upwardly beyond the periphery of said blank, a ribbon folding device comprising first and second arms articulately mounted on said die element and each having a finger extending toward the open mouth of said die element adjacent one of said upwardly extending ribbon end portions respectively, first moving means active on said arms to normally urge said arms to an inoperative position in which their fingers are outside said open mouth, second moving means active on said arms in opposition to said first means to move said arms to an operative position in which their fingers extend inwardly over said open mouth so as to inbend said ribbon end portions, and actuating means operatively connected to at least one of said die element and said cammed hub, actuated and then de-actuated thereby when said relative movement occurs from the first to the second relative position of said die element, actuation of said actuating means occurring only when said relative movement occurs from the first to the second relative position of said die element, said actuating means being operatively connected to said second moving means to actuate the latter whenever it is actuated, thereby causing said arms to move from inoperative to operative position and back to inoperative position when said die element is relatively moved from first to second positions, and causing said arms to remain in inoperative position when said die element is relatively moved from second to first position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, in which said first moving means is resilient and said second moving means and said actuating means comprise a cam follower mounted on one of said arms so as to be free to move with respect to said arm only in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of said arm between operative and inoperative positions, said hub having a cam cooperable with said follower, said cam having a face inclined outwardly from said hub so as to urge said fo1 lower away from said hub in the direction of movement of said arm, thereby moving said arm to operative position upon motion of said cam relative to said follower in a direction opposite to the direction of freedom of movement of said follower relative to said arm, said inclined cam face terminating at its high point in a drop permitting said follower and said arm to move to inoperative position under the influence of said first means after said high point has moved past said follower, movement of said cam in the opposite direction relative to said follower causing movement of said follower relative to said arm without causing movement of said arm from its inoperative position.

12. Apparatus for manufacturing powder puffs and similar shaped articles comprising a die element having an open mouth, a first arm pivotally mounted on said die element and surrounding one portion of said open mouth, a finger on said first arm remote from its pivotal axis and extending toward said open mouth, a second arm pivotally mounted on said die element and surround-ing another portion of said open mouth, a finger on said second arm remote from its pivotal axis and extending toward said open mouth, said two arms being operatively connected for simultaneous pivotal movement, said arms being simultaneously movable between inoperative positions in which their respective fingers are outside said open mouth and operative positions in which their respective fingers extend inwardly over said open mouth, and means operatively connected to one of said arms for moving it, and the other arm connected thereto, between operative and inoperative positions.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, in which said die element has an upwardly directed substantially planar face surrounding said open mouth and provided with spaced projections around said open month, said arms being pivotally mounted on said face outside said projections so as to move substantially parallel to said face, said fingers extending inwardly between adjacent projections.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, in which said arms overlap and are interconnected at a point remote from their pivotal axes.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, in which said arms overlap and are interconnected at a point remote from their pivotal axes.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, in which said means operatively connected to one of said arms for moving it comprises a spring operatively connected to one of said arms so as to urge said arms to one of their positions, and a cam follower operatively connected to one of said arms and movable with respect thereto only in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of pivotal movement of said arm, movement of said cam follower in the plane of movement of said arm moving said arms to the other of their positions in opposition to the action of said spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,484,336 Epstein et a1. Oct. 11, 1949 2,490,451 Magid Dec. 6, 1949 2,509,266 Epstein et a1 May 30, 1950 2,580,075 Clark et a1. Dec. 25, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 666,041 Great Britain Feb. 6, 1952 

